Gompa

Kadampa Center is offering a year-long series of workshops on many aspects of death and dying. The first Saturday of each month at 1pm, we will meet to focus on one important topic to help us make our own life more meaningful by preparing for our own death, to support our practice as caregivers, to explore Buddhist tools for approaching death, and prepare all the worldly details that accompany this process here in America: working with the healthcare system and insurance, preparing our will, etc.

The first workshop, entitled "Thinking about Death – A Workshop for All of Us," will be held Saturday, June 1, from 1-3pm at the Center. No registration is required and this series is offered on a donation basis.

Please join us starting in June for this important series of workshops. If you have any questions, please email Venerable Choekyi at support@kadampa-center.org.

Death and Dying Library

Additionally, our Death and Dying Resource team has been hard at work to prepare a library specific to this topic. As part of Kadampa Center's main library, in the bookshelf just to the left of the main library shelves, is a section of books, DVDs, and handouts focused specifically on aspects of death and dying. As with all books in the Center library, members are welcome to check out these resources.

If you have any items you'd like to donate to the Death and Dying Resource Library, we are looking for books and audio and video resources on caregiving, living with illness, dying, death, and grief. We are not in a position to take resources about specific diseases, such as a diet for cancer patients or a cure for arthritis. Items should be either Buddhist or nonsectarian in nature.

Resources to be donated can be brought to the center and marked for Sylvia or clearly labeled "Death and Dying Resources".  We will take a look at your kind donation to determine if it is something we can use in the library. Please clearly indicate if you want the resource back if it is not something we can use in the library. If you would like to purchase something for the library, please contact Sylvia directly.

If you have any questions about donating items, please contact Sylvia Hill at l09h0314@yahoo.com.

From
 the 
Academy 
Award® 
nominated
 director
 Roko
 Belic 
comes 
a
 new
 cinematic 
adventure.
 More about this wonderful movie!

HAPPY 
is 
a 
feature‐length
 documentary 
that
 leads
 viewers
 on 
a
 journey
 across
 5 
continents
 in
 search
 of 
the 
keys 
to 
happiness. 
The
 film
 addresses 
many 
of 
the
 fundamental
 issues
 we
 face
 in today’s
 society: 
how
 do 
we 
balance
 the 
allure
 of 
money, 
fame and 
social
 status 
with
 our 
needs 
for 
strong
 relationships, 
health
 and
personal 
fulfillment?


Through
 remarkable
 human 
stories 
and 
cutting‐edge
 science,
 HAPPY 
leads 
us 
toward
 a
 deeper
 understanding 
of
 why
 and 
how 
we
 can
 pursue 
more 
fulfilling, 
healthier
 and 
happier
 lives.


HAPPY 
takes
 the
 viewer 
from
 the 
bayous
 of 
Louisiana
 to 
the 
deserts 
of 
Namibia, 
from 
the
 beaches
 of 
Brazil 
to 
the 
mountains
 of 
Bhutan.  
Listen
 to 
the
 wisdom
 of 
a 
Kolkata 
rickshaw 
driver,
 the 
compassion
 of 
a 
volunteer 
at 
Mother
 Teresa’s
 Home
 for 
the
 Dying
 and 
the
 knowledge
 of
 some 
of 
the
 world’s 
leading 
happiness 
researchers.  
Witness 
as 
middle
 school
 students
 applaud
 the
 bravery
 of 
their 
classmates 
during
 a 
moving 
presentation 
on 
bullying.


HAPPY 
combines
 real‐life
 human
 drama
 and 
cutting‐edge
 science 
to
 provide
 insights 
into 
the
 mysteries o
f happiness.

Meditation is basic to Buddhist spiritual practice. One's suffering and one's happiness is dependent upon one's mind. To ensure for ourselves the happiness that we so ardently desire, it is essential that we begin each day with a peaceful and calm mind. The silent meditation includes 20 minutes of sitting meditation followed by 10 minutes of walking meditation (optional) and another 20 minutes of sitting meditation. Participants should arrive no later than 7:30am. Each and every one is invited to come. You will find it to be a wonderful and relaxing way, not only to begin your day, but also your week. All are welcome regardless of one's level of practice.

Buddhism is a psychology of the mind, providing us methods to understand our emotions and how to change our bad habits and thoughts to be happy. The Sunday teachings about how to practice Dharma in daily life, led by our resident teacher, Geshe Gelek Chodha, are appropriate for visitors and students of all levels of study and interest in Buddhism. The session typically includes a brief meditation, prayers, and the rare opportunity to learn from a highly trained Tibetan Buddhist monk. When Geshe-la is away, several senior students typically lead these sessions. The teachings and prayers are offered in English.

In five short classes, we introduce you to the major terms and concepts of Buddhism - a fast tour of the basics to enable you to take the next steps if you want more. Topics covered include the Four Noble Truths, different kinds of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, etc.),  Buddha's teachings in a gradual form for the practice of one individual, and a brief introduction to meditation. We'll let you know of additional reading you can do if you're interested, but there are no specific requirements. The course is based on the teachings found in Buddhism in a Nutshell by Ven. Amy Miller, an excellent supplement to the classes.

In his directorial debut, Buddhist lama Neten Chokling vividly presents the captivating story of Milarepa, the man who would become Tibet s greatest yogi and saint. In the dramatic setting of 11th century Tibet- a time of roaming sorcerers and yogis, according to Buddhist legend- a young Milarepa falls into a world of betrayal and hardships. The greed of others upturns his privileged life, dropping him into a void of despair, humiliation, pain and anger. He sets out to learn black magic- and exact revenge on his enemies- encountering magicians, demons, an enigmatic teacher and unexpected mystical power along the way. But it is in confronting the consequence of his quest for vengeance that he learns the most. Filmed on the breathtaking scenic Indo-Tibetan border, with Tibetan monks serving as most of the cast and crew, Milarepa glows with a unique visual and spiritual charge.

There will be a special Medicine Buddha puja at the Kadampa Center sponsored for the passing of John Elliot's brother, Gary Elliot. Please  join us to support John through this difficult time and to help create the cause for Gary's peaceful and quick journey through the bardo and for his happy rebirth.

In response to requests from students who want to take refuge and lay vows, Geshe Gelek will give this special teaching about what it means to take refuge in the three jewels and how to practice the five lifetime lay vows (in brief: avoiding killing, lying, stealing, intoxicants, and sexual misconduct). Everyone is welcome to attend, but it's strongly recommended for anyone interested in taking any of these commitments in preparation for when the ceremony is actually offered.

We will be setting up extensive offerings for Sunday's long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche. With Geshe Sangpo's help, we'll be lining the altar with water bowls, food offerings, incense, etc. No experience is necessary - this is a great opportunity to learn more about making offerings.

Our Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, encourages students to take the Eight Mahayana Precepts on holy days. They must be taken for the first time with a qualified teacher, and then can be practiced on any day. Those who have taken precepts previously from a teacher can take them as a group at the Center, or at home, at “first light” (6:00 am). Geshe-la will not be available this Sunday, so the ceremony will be for those who have taken precepts before with a qualified teacher.

Students who have not previously taken precepts and wish to request taking them with Geshe Gelek, please contact program@kadampa-center.org for more information.

For more information about the Eight Mahayana Precepts practice, please read Lama Zopa Rinpoche's commentary The Direct and Unmistaken Method.